Choose the Right Synonym for want

Verb

desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for. desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.
desires to start a new life wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.
wishes for permanent world peace want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.
wants to have a family crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.
craves sweets covet implies strong envious desire.
covets his rise to fame

Noun

poverty, indigence, penury, want, destitution mean the state of one with insufficient resources. poverty may cover a range from extreme want of necessities to an absence of material comforts.
the extreme poverty of the slum dwellers indigence implies seriously straitened circumstances.
the indigence of her years as a graduate student penury suggests a cramping or oppressive lack of money.
a catastrophic illness that condemned them to years of penurywant and destitution imply extreme poverty that threatens life itself through starvation or exposure.
lived in a perpetual state of want
the widespread destitution in countries beset by famine

Examples of want in a Sentence

Verb

Do you want more coffee?
He wants a bicycle for his birthday.
I just wanted a chance to rest.
She wanted more time to finish the test.
Do you want anything from the store?
What do you want for Christmas?
You can choose whichever color you want.
The motor wants a tune-up.
Thousands of poor people still want food and shelter.
Tell him that the teacher wants him.

Noun

His attitude shows a want of proper respect.
He is suffering from want of adequate sleep.
people who are living in want

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'want.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.